Submitted by Arthur - N1ORC - Amsat A./C #31468
*International Space Station Status Report #04-39*
*3 p.m. CDT Friday, July 9, 2004*
*Expedition 9 Crew*
Aboard the International Space Station, work focused on science,
spacesuit troubleshooting and routine maintenance as the Expedition 9
crew sailed through its 12th week in space.
Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke
turned their attention to a human science investigation to better
understand the ability to quickly and remotely transmit medical data to
the ground. The application may also find benefits on Earth, allowing
for much quicker injury diagnosis for patients at remote locations by
doctors based at hospitals.
The advanced ultrasound experiment administered by Padalka on his
“patient” Fincke was conducted through the middle of the week. It
demonstrated that transmission to a flight surgeon could be accomplished
in quick fashion. This bodes well for Earth applications such as cases
where early diagnosis of an accident victim could be made. Individuals
with little training could transmit information from remote locations to
doctors who can evaluate the data before transportation of the victim to
a hospital. Early diagnosis and treatment through such telescience could
ultimately save lives.
Details on Station science operations, managed by NASA's Marshall Space
Flight Center, can be found on the Payload Operations Center’s Internet
site at http://scipoc.msfc.nasa.gov/ .
Fincke conducted additional troubleshooting work on the U.S. spacesuits
with help from Mission Control. The Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMU)
have cooling problems, which have tentatively been traced to pumps
inside the suits. These pumps circulate water through the suit to keep
spacewalkers cool or warm. Further work is planned for the week of July
19 to pinpoint the problem more precisely. Repair parts for the suits
are to be launched aboard the next Progress supply craft on Aug. 11. The
new Progress would dock with the Station Aug. 14. The Progress now
docked to the Station, ISS Progress 14, will be undocked July 30.
The next spacewalk, using Russian Orlan suits, is planned for Aug. 3.
During the spacewalk, the crew will retrieve science experiments,
install others, and prepare the outside of the Zvezda module’s docking
port for next year’s planned first flight of the European Automated
Transfer Vehicle (ATV).
Late in the week, the crew simulated an onboard fire during an emergency
drill and exercised the full contingency plan with flight controllers in
Houston and Moscow. Similar drills are conducted periodically aboard the
complex to maintain the crew's emergency preparedness.
Information on the crew's activities aboard the Space Station, future
launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on
the Earth, is available on the Internet at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/
The next ISS status report will be issued Friday, July 16, or as events
warrant.
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